Iran, Uruguay Stress Enhanced Ties

TEHRAN, April 11 (ICANA) – A senior Iranian lawmaker has praised growing relations with Uruguay, stressing the importance of improving ties between Tehran and Montevideo in a variety of fields.

Monday, April 11, 2011 10:16:04 AM

“Iran and Uruguay have prepared ground for taking major strides in the development of relations in different political, parliamentary, economic and technical areas,” Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Alaeddin Boroujerdi said in a meeting with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro in the Iranian capital city, Tehran, on Sunday.

He added that Iran's Parliament supports the expansion of ties with Uruguay in line with mutual interests with regard to the two countries' capabilities.

The Iranian lawmaker noted that the Islamic Republic has made great achievements in the scientific, industrial and nuclear fields “thanks to the sincere efforts of Iranians and the independence of the country.”

The US and West pursued a “monopolistic” approach since the victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979 and placed different obstacles in the way of the country's scientific and technical progress, Boroujerdi said.

“However, the Islamic Republic succeeded to completely achieve peaceful nuclear energy in a difficult situation caused by illegal sanctions and managed to use the technology in agricultural and medical sectors,” he emphasized.

Almagro, for his part, said Uruguay attaches significance to sustainable ties with Iran as an important Muslim country in the Middle East and added that the two countries' officials are resolute in bolstering bilateral relations in political, trade and cultural areas.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is an important and strong country in the Middle East which has made remarkable progress after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he added.

The Uruguayan minister pointed to the unfolding developments in the Middle East and North Africa and expressed his country's opposition to the West's double-standard policy vis-a-vis independent countries.

He noted that respecting human rights, supporting democracy and non-interference in other countries' affairs are among the main principles of Uruguay.

The promotion of all-out cooperation with Latin American countries is among the top priorities of the Islamic Republic's foreign policy.

According to statistics released by the International Monetary Fund, Iran's trade with Latin America has witnessed a considerable rise since 2008.